Log-loading machine.



J. R. MGGIPFERT. LOG LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1910.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

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B? a g Arm/ y WWII/[8% W COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH IQ-WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. R. MGGIPPERT. LOG LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION rum) JULY 2, 1910.

' Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOOBAPH C04, WASHINGTON, D- c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. MOGIFFERT, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, AS SIGNOR TO CLYDE IRON WORKS, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

LOG-LOADING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN R. MOGIFFERT,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Duluth, county of St. Louis, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Log-Loading Machines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention, relating as indicated to log loading machines, has regard more especially to log loaders of the McGiffert type as they are known to the trade, the form of such type of machine being in general that disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No.'715,84.0 issued to me December16, 1902.

The present invention constitutes in general an'improvement on the machine disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 552,731 filed March 31, 1910.

The object of the present improvements is to provide for the use of pivotal four-wheel trucks in such McGiffert loader instead of the fixedly mounted, two wheel trucks of the machine in its earlier form. Two-wheel trucks I have found, in the case of loaders of increased weight, do not always properly sustain the frame, as the rails of logging roads are apt to be too light to support a quarter of the weight of the machine on each wheel. Furthermore, by the use of pivoted trucks, the machine is enabled to run more easily around the sharp curves which abound in such tracks.

With a view, then, to the accomplishment of the foregoing and related objects, said invention consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :Figure l is a broken side elevation of a log-loading machine embodying my present improvements with parts appearing in section; and Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

In certain characteristic features, the present machine closely resembles that disclosed in the patent previously referred to. Thus it comprises a frame or body portion A adapted to span a track B and provided with standards 0; adapted to rest at their lower ends upon the rail bed of said track outside of the rails so as to permit the passage of cars on the latter beneath the frame and between said standards. The platform or deck a which is supported by these standards is designed to carry the engine, the hoisting drums, and the like (not shown), which are utilized in the operation of the machine, as need not be explained in detail. Of such operative parts, in fact, only the lower portion of the swinging boom 21. utilized in loading the logs onto the logging cars appears. For the purpose of movably supporting the aforesaid frame, together with themechanism thus mounted thereon, when it is desired to transport the same from one place to another, I utilize two, four-wheel trucks C which are so secured to the frame that they may be raised and lowered to jack up the machine on said trucks when it is desired to move the loader, other means being provided for elevating the trucks high enough to permit a clear passage for the cars to be loaded beneath the frame when the loader is stationary, that is, when it is set up for operation.

In the side elevation of the machine appearing in Fig. 2, only one end of the frame is shown and hence but a single truck C; but it will be understood that the other end of the machine is a substantial duplicate of the one illustrated in all features of present interest. Each truck C is thus movably attached to the main frame 'of the machine by means of a pivotal frame G oscillatorily hung about a transverse axis 0. Such frame includes a cross-beam 0 near its lower end, which extends outwardly on either side, so as to bear against springs c secured to the lower longitudinal beams a of the main frame. The cables 0 and c for raising and lowering the frame are, moreover, at tached to this same cross-beam c. It has not been deemed necessary to illustrate in detail the winding drums, or the engine, for operating such cables, since the arrangement of the cables alone is concerned in the present invention. Thus the cable 0 for lowering the swinging frame and the truck supported thereon passes under' a pulley or sheave c in the lower part of the main frame so as to be capable of pulling downwardly upon the cross beam 0', and the raising cable 0 is similarly passed over a sheave 0 supported above the deck orplatform a of the main frame and forwardly of the pivotal axis 0 of such swinging truck frame.

At the lower ends of the side members 0 which along with transverse beam 0 compose the swingin frame 0, are provided boxes in whic are journaled stub shafts 0 rigidly secured in the ends of the body bolster c of the truck. Such body bolster is pivotally secured to the truck bolster 0 proper, by means of center plates 0 and a king bolt 0 as will be readily understood. Such king bolt, however, is provided with a head on one end and a nut on the other, so as to prevent the two bolsters a 0 from separating, or in'other words, the truck from dropping, when the swinging frame C is raised.

The detailed construction of the truck need not be noted other than to remark that the journal boxes 0 are set on the axles inside of the wheels instead of on the outside as is customary in the construction of ordinary rolling stock. The object of this is, of course, to place such boxes out of the way of the vertical, side members 0 of the swinging frame and render the structure correspondingly more compact.

By reason of the foregoing construction of oscillating frame and truck, it will be seen that the latter is independently pivotal about axes respectively transverse of and parallel with the axis of oscillation of said frame.

Between the truck bolster and body bolster at the outer extremities of the former, I provide ordinary rub irons, (not shown) leaving, however, sufiicient clearance between them so as to allow the body of the machine to rock slightly on the truck. This is desirable because of the unevenness of the track over which the loader requires to be operated.

Propulsion of the machine is secured by means of three sprockets E, E and E one on each of the two truck axles, and a third mounted on the shaft 0 from which the swinging frame is pivotally hung; and a sprocket chain 6 passing around such three sprockets, as shown in Fig. 1. The sprocket wheel E on the shaft 0 is, of course, driven from the engine by suitable intermediate gearing. Inasmuch as chain 6 will be considerably slackened when the truck is elevated, a

roller e is provided, being journaled at each end in boxes secured to the rear por tion of the corresponding arch bars of the truck. When the machine is running along the track, such roller does not come in contact with the sprocket chain, but, upon the truck being elevated, the chain is folded back over the roller so as to be held up securely against the sprocket E on the adjacent axle. Not only is the chain thus prevented from becoming disengaged from this sprocket E, but it is also prevented from sagging down so as to interfere with the passage of cars underneath the truck, and by being thus held taut, is likewise maintained in engagement with the sprocket E on the forward axle of the truck.

The general operation of the machine is not believed to require more than brief reference, in view of the preceding description. In general such operation is substantially the same as that of the earlier form of the machine above identified; in fact my present improved truck construction and swinging frame for supporting the same, may be substituted if desired in the main frame of the prior machine so as to provide fourwheel trucks instead of twowheel trucks, as have heretofore been used in the latter.

Inasmuch as the body bolster is secured to the truck bolster, which latter is in turn pivotally secured about a transverse axis of the swinging frame, it is obvious that as such frame is elevated into the ,horizontal position indicated in dotted outline in Fig 1, the bolster with the truck will always remain in a horizontal position, inasmuch as its center of gravity is considerably below the shafts a that thus pivotally support the bolster.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re gards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; and a truck pivotally attached to said oscillatory frame about an axis transverse of the latters axis of oscillation.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; and a four-wheel truck pivotally attached to said oscillatory frame about an axis transverse of the latters axis of oscillation.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; and a truck pivotally attached to said oscillatory frame about an axis parallel with the latters axis of oscillation.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; and a truck attached to said oscillatory frame so as to be pivotal about axes respectively transverse of and parallel with the latters axis of oscillation, the center of gravity of said truck lying below said trucks last-named pivotal axis.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; a bolster pivotally at tached to said oscillatory frame about an axis parallel with the latters axis of oscillation; and a truck pivotally attached to said bolster about an axis transverse of such axis of oscillation.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; a bolster pivotally attached to said oscillatory frame about an axis parallel with the latters axis of oscillation; and a four-Wheel truck pivotally attached to said bolster about an axis transverse of such axis of oscillation.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; a bolster pivotally attached to said oscillatory frame about an axis parallel with the latters axis of oscillation; and-a truck pivotally attached to said bolster about an axis transverse of such axis of oscillation, the center of gravity of said truck lying below thev pivotal axis of said bolster.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; a four-wheel truck attached to said main frame so as to be pivotal about axes respectively transverse of and parallel with the latters axis of oscillation; a sprocket chain for driving said truck passing around the axis of said oscillatory frame and the axles of the truck; and means adapted to keep said chain from sagging when said frame is oscillated.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; a four-wheel truck attached to said main frame so as to be pivotal about axes respectively transverse of and parallel with the latters axis of oscillation; a sprocket chain for driving said truck passing around the axis of said oscillatory frame and the axles of the truck; and a roller on said truck adapted to engage said chain and keep the same from sagging when said frame is raised.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; a bolster pivotally attached to said oscillatory frame about an axis parallel with the latters axis of oscilla tion; a four-wheel truck pivotally attached to said bolster about an axis transverse of such axis of oscillation; a sprocket chain for driving said truck passing around the axis of said oscillatory frame and the axles of said truck; and means adapted to keep said chainfrom sagging when said frame is oscillated.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; a bolster pivotally attached to said oscillatory frame about an axis parallel with the latters axis of oscillation; a four-wheel truck pivotally attached to said bolster about an axis transverse of such axis of oscillation; a sprocket chain for driving said truck passing around the axis of said oscillatory frame and the axles of said truck; and a roller on said truck adapted to engage said chain and keep the same from sagging when said frame is raised.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; and a truck attached to said oscillatory frame so as to be pivotal about axes respectively transverse of andparallel with the latters axis of oscillation.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame adapted to span a track; a frame oscillatorily secured to said main frame; and a four-wheel truck at- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

